How To Repair Plumbing – Do It Yourself Or Get A Plumber?

Any home plumbing system must be routinely checked and maintained. Plumbing fixtures must be kept clean; blockages cleared out; leak repair attended to and pipes kept clean. If you are worried about how to repair plumbing, then you will be glad to know that there are certain plumbing problems that you can tackled easily by yourself with the help of a plumber’s basic toolkit. In fact, the majority of homeowners learn to fix minor plumbing problems themselves rather than call the plumber to fix it at $80 an hour. However, leaks in the water supply lines where soldering is necessary must be dealt with by the emergency plumber Perth. Let us look at how to repair plumbing problems that are the most likely to occur.

Drains Blocked or clogged drains particularly the kitchen sink are the reason why most plumbers get called. While this can be prevented through careful use, clogging of drains does take place because of the liquid fat being emptied into the sink. This later cools and lines the inside of the pipes, growing until it gradually blocks the drain pipe. You can tackle this yourself with a ‘plunger’ which is a wooden handle with a large rubber suction cup. This cup can be held firmly over the drain with the wooden handle being plunged with force a few times. Be careful if it is a double drain, as water can splash out at you from the other while you work on the first one. Another way to clean the block is by removing the J bend under the plumbing fixture and removing the debris with a wire. Remember to have spare gaskets and washers at hand as you fix the joints back. Repair In Toilets Simple clogs in a water closet can also be tackled with a plunger but here it is important to be careful since you do not want to damage the material. Plumbers use a device called an ‘auger’ or snake. This coil like device can be inserted into the trap and into the pipe. If this does not work, you might have to call the plumber Frankston. Bathtub Drain Repairs While cleaning a clogged bathtub drain, remember to spread a heavy cloth on the bathtub to avoid scratching the surface.

The plunger can be useful to clear this, too. If this is not enough, you could use a cable to get through the clog. Floor Drains With floor drains, the strainer or grating must be removed from the drain box. Using a stick the dirt can be dug out. If you have a removable clean out plug, the job becomes easier to tackle. After removing the dirt, it is better to pour a couple of buckets of really hot water so that any remnants of dirt can be washed away. The strainer must also be cleaned out. Floor drains must have a proper water seal because if they dry out, sewer gases will escape from the grate into the room. Plumbing Fixtures And Fittings Faucet repairs are common in the plumbing system. There are both washer type and washer-less types in Faucets. Washer-less faucets last longer than the ones with washers. Washers can be easily replaced provided the washer seat is in good condition. The water supply must be shut off before the faucet stem is opened, so it is important to know where the main valve is located. The good thing about plumbing problems is they become noticeable quite fast, necessitating immediate action. Any leak repair must be attended to promptly after the water supply valve is shut off. Most plumbing advice books will more or less give you step by step instructions on how to repair plumbing problems with illustrations.